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Chapter 8 synthesizes the research findings from the processes of sensory cognition into the design and configuration of the learning environment. The focus of cognition changes perspective and focus from the attributes of an external stimulus to the internal processes of integration with prior learning and internalization into a new cognition of the individual, which is labeled as the individual's learning ecology. These processes provide a plausible model for the design of the learning environment dimension, which internalizes the learning into transformational and ultimately lifelong learning. The processes of sensory cognition provide a viable and practical model to engineer learning cognition in the same way the brain does with sensory cognition. Like sensory cognition, learning cognition is the result of the structure of the learning environment.

Due to the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, a temporary interruption of education activities occurred all over the world. The sudden and quick shift from blended or face-to-face learning mode to the sole online learning mode affected the perceptions of students toward the Blackboard application and the usage. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of students toward the Blackboard application in the process of learning Preparatory Year (PY) English courses as the mere tool of learning and the impact of the students’ perceptions on the students’ use of Blackboard.

The results are based on a survey conducted with 228 of PY students: 1st level n = 126 and 2nd level n = 102 at Najran University. The data are analyzed to compare the two levels, as the students’ prior experience with Blackboard is not the same. The 2nd level students have prior experience of blended learning through Blackboard, whereas 1st level students have no prior experience of learning through Blackboard.

The data of the perceptions of both levels showed that 1st level students’ perceptions toward online learning of English via Blackboard were higher than 2nd level students. The data on the frequency of the use of the Blackboard application reflected the perceptions of students.

The findings suggest that the students’ prior experience of e-learning via Blackboard has an impact on the students’ perceptions.

The findings of the study contributed to the learning through the management systems research field and online learning of English during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Most educational institutions worldwide have suddenly switched to online instruction due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and English language teaching took its part in this transition. The immediate transition from face-to-face to fully online instruction affects its effective implementation, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia where online learning is in its early stage. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate postgraduate EFL students’ perceptions and practices of online learning.

This study uses a descriptive survey design. Using simple random sampling, 91 postgraduate EFL students were selected from four universities. Online questionnaires were employed to collect data. To analyze the data, both descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (one sample t-test) statistics were used.

The findings of the study indicate that the students had favorable perceptions of online learning. Despite the students' positive perceptions, the results of the study showed that the practice of online learning in the universities was limited; especially the practice of synchronous online learning was low.

The results suggest that the concerned bodies at the universities should consider implementing a blended (both synchronous and asynchronous) learning system to deliver an online learning approach.

This is one of the first studies in a higher education context in Ethiopia, which tries to investigate the postgraduate EFL students' perceptions and practices of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper is original because it investigated the status of online learning during the pandemic in a developing country like Ethiopia; it provides a real and convincing idea of a new way of learning in the post-COVID-19 context. The study can also be useful for related future research in the context of a pandemic-like COVID-19.

Chapter 7 synthesizes the perception research into plausible design and configuration strategies for the learning experience dimension of a psychophysical learning system. The processes used in all five senses to reduce information into a perception are again used to create learning activities and processes, which facilitate the learning and discriminate meaning from the learning objects and activities. This process attends to the interactions across the categories of content to determine the critical components of the discipline to include in the learning experience. Once again, the focus of the psychophysical learning experience is placed on the structure of the (external) discipline, which is used to configure the learning experiences.

This study aims to investigate the perceptions of elderly learners in experiencing Zoom learning under the effects of COVID in the case of Hong Kong.

An online survey and focus group interviews have been conducted with quantitative and qualitative approaches, respectively. The survey design was based on the input-process-output (IPO) model conceptual framework and used to assess students’ perceptions regarding their Zoom learning experiences at the Elder Academy of Hong Kong Metropolitan University. Thereafter, selected students were invited to participate in focus group interviews to offer more in-depth comments for analysis purposes. Statistical Product and Service Solutions software and SmartPLS were used for data analysis of the survey, and content analysis was used to summarize opinions from the focus group interviews; thus, a comprehensive picture of elderly learners’ learning experiences on Zoom is presented.

An overall positive perception was the result of elderly learners’ Zoom learning journeys, particularly in the “input” and “process” stages of the IPO model. Yet, their perception of the “learning outcomes achieved” level in the “output” stage was lower among the rest, thus strongly affected by the factors of “interactions” and “teaching” experienced by elderly learners on Zoom. Although the perception of the youngest age group was more positive, none have agreed that Zoom learning was more favourable when compared with the traditional face-to-face mode.

Given Zoom as the short-term replacement option under the COVID pandemic, this study will provide recommendations for educators/institutions to improve their design of the whole learning process for elderly learners on the Zoom platform.

This paper aims to investigate participants’ motivations and perceptions of a field trip. Specifically, this paper examines if and how students’ perceptions change with time and it explores the main factors for ensuring success in an experiential learning tourism program.

The study gathered and compared data collected in two points in time – immediately at the end of the experience and two months afterward. T-tests for paired samples were used to examine potential differences in perceptions and principal component analysis was used to identify the key factors determining the success of the experience.

The findings indicate that there are various motivations behind participation and that time barely affects perceptions of the experience. Furthermore, three factors emerged as important for meeting expectations, namely, social and professional connections, learning and traditional yet engaging teaching.

While the outcomes are useful, they need to be thoughtfully applied because of the small data set. It is important to repeat similar investigations to allow more certainty in the propositions formulated. Furthermore, future studies should evaluate a broader variety of outcomes to determine whether perceptions remain constant. The implications are that educators and destination managers can easily apply these conclusions for the benefit and the findings can inform other field trips and broader experiential initiatives.

Despite research on learning outcomes and perceptions of experiential learning having expanded considerably, a fundamental question that remains unanswered is how perceptions of such experiences change and, consequently, when the most appropriate time is to assess participant perceptions.

研学旅游与体验式学习：学生对田野实践的认知

摘要

本文的研究目的是为了探讨学生对于研学旅游中田野实践的参与动机和观念。特别地, 本文检验了学生的观念是否以及如何随时间变化, 并探讨了影响体验式研学旅行项目成功实施的关键因素。

该研究在两个时间点收集数据, 一是在完成体验式学习之后立即进行数据收集, 二是在两个月后再次进行数据收集。研究主要采用配对样本T检验来检验认知的潜在差异, 采用主成分分析法来识别影响该体验能否成功的关键因素。

研究结果表明, 参加体验式研学旅行的人们有着不同的动机, 时间基本不影响参与者对研学体验的认知。此外, 三个因素显得十分重要：社交和专业联系、学习、传统的参与式教学。

尽管本研究的结果有重要的实践价值, 但由于样本量相对较小, 需要谨慎应用此研究结果。本研究认为, 有必要在未来的研究中进行类似的重复研究, 以确保所得出的结论具有稳健性。此外, 未来的研究应当考虑更多的结果, 从而判断参与者的认知是否稳定。本文的研究意义有三：教育工作者以及旅游目的地经理人可以轻松应用这些结论来盈利, 可以启发其他类型的田野实践, 启发更一般的体验式学习项目。

近来, 虽然关于体验式学习成效、体验式学习认知的研究迅速增加, 但一个尚未被解答的根本性问题是：体验式学习的认知是如何变化的, 因此, 在哪个时间点去评估参与者的认知是最合适的？

Turismo educativo y aprendizaje experimental: percepciones de los estudiantes sobre las excursiones

El propósito de este estudio es investigar las motivaciones y percepciones de un viaje de campo. Específicamente, en este articulo se examina si las percepciones de los estudiantes cambian con el tiempo y se determinan los principales factores para asegurar el éxito de un programa de aprendizaje experimental de turismo.

El estudio reunió y comparó datos recopilados en dos puntos en el tiempo – directamente después de la experiencia y dos meses después. Se aplico la prueba “t” para muestras emparejadas para examinar las posibles diferencias en las percepciones y se utilizó el análisis de componentes principales para identificar los factores clave que determinan el éxito de la experiencia.

los resultados indican que hay varias motivaciones detrás de la participación y que el tiempo prácticamente no afecta las percepciones de la experiencia. Además, tres factores surgieron como fundamentales para cumplir con las expectativas de los estudiantes: conexiones sociales y profesionales, aprendizaje y enseñanza tradicional pero dinámica.

Si bien los resultados son útiles, deben aplicarse cuidadosamente debido al pequeño conjunto de datos. Es importante repetir investigaciones similares para permitir mayor certeza en las proposiciones formuladas. Además, los estudios futuros deberían evaluar una variedad más amplia de resultados para determinar si las percepciones permanecen constantes. Las implicaciones son que los educadores y los gerentes de destino pueden aplicar fácilmente estas conclusiones para beneficio y los hallazgos pueden informar otras excursiones e iniciativas experimentales más amplias.

Si bien la investigación sobre percepciones del aprendizaje experimental se ha ampliado considerablemente, una pregunta fundamental que queda sin respuesta es cómo cambian las percepciones de tales experiencias y, en consecuencia, cuándo es el momento más apropiado para evaluar las percepciones de los participantes.

The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to introduce a conceptual model for assessing undergraduate student learning outcomes and satisfaction that involves concepts drawn from the services marketing and assessment literatures; second, to illustrate the utility of the model as implemented in an academic department (geography) within a large American university, and third, to demonstrate the applicability of the model by replicating the study at different scales: an entire undergraduate program (business administration) in a large Spanish university and another program (nursing) involving various universities of a Spanish region.

A multi‐method approach is used which comprises quadrant analysis, ANOVA tests and structural equation modeling techniques. A questionnaire was designed for data collection.

The main finding is the support found for the proposed model at different scales. Results of the multi‐method approach provide specific guidelines to departments using this approach to improve student learning outcomes and satisfaction.

The paper provides a conceptual model and supporting tools that can be used by other academic departments or higher education institutions to assist in the evaluation of how students perceive their learning outcomes and satisfaction with their undergraduate program.

The value of this multi‐method approach is that it is simple to implement, and at the same time provides a richness of information for diagnosis and decision‐making. The model was tested with data collected in different undergraduate programs and different countries, allowing the authors not only to find support for the model, but also to consider cultural differences among student perceptions.

The purpose of this paper is to report the change in students' STEM perceptions in two different informal learning environments: an online STEM camp and a face-to-face (FTF) STEM camp.

For this quasi-experimental study, 26 students participated in an online STEM summer camp and another 26 students participated in the FTF STEM camp. Students from each group took the same pre- and post-STEM Semantics Survey documenting their perceptions of the individual STEM fields and of STEM careers. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, Mann–Whitney U tests and corresponding effect sizes were used to compare the pre- and post-scores within and between the camps.

Results indicate that both camps produce similar outcomes regarding STEM field and career perceptions. However, analysis of all statistical values indicates that the online STEM camp can produce a larger positive influence on STEM field perceptions and the FTF camp can produce a larger positive influence on STEM career perceptions.

This suggests that STEM camps, both online and in-person, can improve students' perceptions of the STEM fields and of STEM careers. Implications from this study indicate that modifications of informal learning environments should be based on the type of learning environment.

This manuscript discusses the development and impact of an online STEM camp to accommodate for the sudden onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability to hold an in-person STEM camp. These results may influence the curriculum and organization of future online and FTF STEM camps.

Student/trainee perception of their performance can sometimes be inaccurate. This study aims to look at the accuracy of perception to actual performance in short‐term intervention style training/instruction.

Two studies conducted using university students in problem solving exercises compared the performance of the students to their actual performance on the designated problems. Following the instructional intervention, the participants were asked to use a presented strategy in solving a target solution problem. Participants were then asked a short series of post‐study questions related to their perception of the learning outcomes. Perception accuracy was measured through analysis of scoring on the target solution problem and the corresponding answers to the post‐study questionnaire.

In both studies, there was a positive relationship between the score on the target solution problem and the responses to the post‐study questionnaire.

The results of this study are limited to university students in a mid‐sized Southeastern US institution. The results suggest that further study with other subject populations may support these findings.

Findings suggest that students have an accurate awareness of their understanding following an instructional intervention. Educators and trainers can use this accuracy in perception to measure the level of learning following lectures or other learning or training activities. This can provide useful information following classroom lectures, reading assignments, and testing to get a measure of learning, and can also be used following training activities as a measure of transfer of training.

The paper compares students' accuracy of perception to actual performance, and finds that students have an accurate awareness of their understanding following an instructional intervention. This can be of practical benefit to educators and trainers.

Social annotation (SA) is a genre of learning technology that enables the annotation of digital resources for information sharing, social interaction and knowledge production. This study aims to examine the perceived value of SA as contributing to learning in multiple undergraduate courses.

In total, 59 students in 3 upper-level undergraduate courses at a Canadian university participated in SA-enabled learning activities during the winter 2019 semester. A survey was administered to measure how SA contributed to students’ perceptions of learning and sense of community.

A majority of students reported that SA supported their learning despite differences in course subject, how SA was incorporated and encouraged and how widely SA was used during course activities. While findings of the perceived value of SA as contributing to the course community were mixed, students reported that peer annotations aided comprehension of course content, confirmation of ideas and engagement with diverse perspectives.

Studies about the relationships among SA, learning and student perception should continue to engage learners from multiple courses and from multiple disciplines, with indicators of perception measured using reliable instrumentation.

Researchers and faculty should carefully consider how the technical, instructional and social aspects of SA may be used to enable course-specific, personal and peer-supported learning.

This study found a greater variance in how undergraduate students perceived SA as contributing to the course community. Most students also perceived their own and peer annotations as productively contributing to learning. This study offers a more complete view of social factors that affect how SA is perceived by undergraduate students.